Comments on: Contra Dennett I: Stuffing a straw man

By: Henry IX? « Whosoever Desires

Henry IX? « Whosoever Desires — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:22:06 +0000

[...] of hatred, a violence in the rhetoric of many of the Church’s contemporary opponents (think of Daniel Dennett advocating the “re-education” of children against the wishes of religious parents), that is [...]

By: Paul VI, the Jesuits, and atheism « Whosoever Desires

Paul VI, the Jesuits, and atheism « Whosoever Desires — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:03:08 +0000

[...] noted at the beginning of my series on the “new atheists” (Contra Dennett 1, 2, and 3) that Pope Paul VI entrusted the Society of Jesus with the mission of combating atheism [...]

By: Paddy Gilger, SJ

Paddy Gilger, SJ — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:19:32 +0000

Clearly presented as always, Tony. Thanks.

By: Contra Dennett III: Mystery « Whosoever Desires

Contra Dennett III: Mystery « Whosoever Desires — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:37:34 +0000

[...] my first post on the subject I argued that that Dan Dennett’s Breaking the Spell sets up a straw man by [...]

By: Anthony Lusvardi, SJ

Anthony Lusvardi, SJ — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:08:52 +0000

I can’t really speak to the particular institutions you allude to, but I’ll put up all of Pope Paul’s words on atheism when I track them down again. (I’m away from Chicago and my books for the summer.)

Henri de Lubac has an intersting book on atheism (something like “The Drama of Atheist Humanism”.) It’s published by Ignatius Press.

By: Contra Dennett II: The Crusades, the Inquisition, and all that « Whosoever Desires

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:24:33 +0000

[...] Last week, I argued that Dan Dennett’s Breaking the Spell amounts to an attack on a straw man, “Religion,” an amalgam of what he calls “an unorganized set of dozens or hundreds—or billions—of quite different possible theories.” [...]

By: Qualis Rex

Qualis Rex — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:49:38 +0000

Will – wrong as always.

Glenna – well said. The “squeeky (atheist) wheel gets the grease” syndrome is rampant across secularized societies these days. Even here in Italy, a few years back some whiney atheist Finn went shnutz (I believe that is the clinical term) over the fact that her Finnling (I believe that is the zoological word) had to go to public school where there is a crucifix in each classroom. Adding insult to injury, the European High Court sided with her and awarded her I believe 5,000 Euros in “damages”. Ironically, this made Italians (even the atheists) upset as it looked like the EU was (yet again) encroaching on the rights, laws and sovereignty of a member nation. And since Italy (along with Germany) is economically carrying the EU at the moment, the ruling was struck down just this year.

The point is 1 Finn was able to accomplish what thousands of Italian atheists couldn’t (or didn’t care enough to) do. We should never discount the impact of a small but constant dull whine.

By: Glenna Bradshaw

Glenna Bradshaw — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:22:15 +0000

I was with you till the last sentence which is, unfortunately, untrue. Many folks believe “this stuff” and that’s why parents are in the crosshairs of the US gov’t/NEA etc re: the type of education they choose for their children. Or read what Cass Sunstein wrote before we started paying him to be a czar…
I hope it’s true that the minority of people believe “this stuff” but they are a very vocal, highly educated & highly placed minority in this country today. Sad to say, many many of them products of Catholic education. That’s why Paul VI’s mandate to the Society in ’66 needs a champion. Thank you for taking up that Standard!

By: Qualis Rex

Qualis Rex — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:56:31 +0000

I have not Dennett, so thank you in advance for doing us this favour. Personally, I have never met an atheist who did not think eugenics or social engineering (or both) was a “good idea”. When you eliminate God, someone has to be entrusted with “playing god”. And of course, the only one’s capable of doing this are those who have eliminated God (circular argument).

Great post as always.

By: Pete Lake

Pete Lake — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:33:36 +0000

Anthony, thank you (and happy belated Feast Day). Pope Paul (and St. Ignatius) would be proud.

Perhaps you could devote one of your future posts to let us know how the Company is doing in its mission entrusted to it by Paul VI. I say this because I find it interesting that you mention Dennett being at Tufts when in fact I’m sure the Theology Department (and to a much lesser degree the Philosophy Department) at the Jesuit university accross the bridge and up Comm. Ave from Tufts would probably be a more receptive audience to Dennett’s idea than to yours (than to the Church’s) – i.e., would the results be much different if Dennett polled his colleagues at BC? Holy Cross?

AMDG